Brush-holder for commutators for dynamo-electric machines



(No Model.)

I. H BARTHOLOMEW. BRUSH HOLDER FOR GOMMUTATORS FOR DYNAMO ELECTRICMAGHINBS.

No. 466,972. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

THE NORRIS versus (20., momuma, WASNINEYHN, u. c

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC H. BARTHOLOMEV, OF NORTHFORD, CONNECTICUT.

BRUSH-HOLDER FOR COMMUTATORS FOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,972, dated January12, 1892.

Application an August 13,1891. Serial No. 402,531. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC H. BARTHOLO- MEW, of Northford, in the countyof New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented anew Improvement inBrush-Holders for Com mutators forDynamo-Electric Machines; and I dohereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanyingdrawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawingsconstitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, aview in side elevation of abrushholder constructed inaccordance with my invention with the brush shown in its normal oroperating position; Fig. 2, a broken view of the device, which is shownpartly in elevation and partly in section, with the brushcarrierelevated to retire the brush; Fig. 3, a

g evice in transverse section on the line as a: of

My invention relates to an improvement in holders for commutator-brushesfor dynamoelectric machines, the object being to produce a simple andconvenient device adapted to be operated without the removal of any ofits parts or the use of tools and to be adjusted to compensate thebrushes for wear.

\Vith these ends in View my invention consists in the combination, witha frame-piece,

of a brush-carrier pivotally connected therewith and a movablehand-piece located between the said parts for lifting the former toretire the brush.

My invention further consists in the combination, with a frame-piece, ofa slide applied thereto, a brush-carrier connected with the said slide,and an adj 'llStlllg-SOIGW mounted in the frame-piece and connected withthe slide for moving the same and hence the brushcarrier.

My invention further consists in certain detailsof construction andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

As herein shown, the frame-piece A of the device is cast in one piece ofmetal and constructed at its forward end with an opening B for the shaftupon which the device is mounted, the said shaft not being shown planview of the device; Fig. 4, a view of the heroin. .An arm A, formed atthe forward end of the frame-piece, is constructed with a longitudinalthreaded perforation to receive a set-screw B, which enters the openingB aforesaid to engage with the shaft and thus secure the device thereto.The said framepiece is also constructed with two parallel depending lugsC C, having aligned perforations. said frame-piece between the twodepending lugs C C thereof, is provided with a depend ing lug D, havinga threaded perforation in line with the perforations of the said lugsbefore mentioned. An adj ustingscrew E, having a knurled head, passesthrough each of the said lugs, and is secured against endwisedisplacement by the said head and by a pin E, passing transverselythrough its extreme inner end. By means of this screw the slide D may bemoved back and forth between the two depending lugs C C, which arethereto sufficiently separated to give the slide as much play as willever be called for in the operation of the device. The two ends of theyokeshaped body of the slide extend above the fiat upper face of theframe-piece and receive between them the curved arm F of thebrushcarrier, the said arm being constructed at its rear end with ahorizontally-perforated knuckle F, receiving a pin C, which also passesthrough the said ends of the yokeshaped body of the slide, whereby thebrush carrrier is pivotally connected therewith. A horizontal box 'I-I,located at the inner end of the arm F and cast in the same piecetherewith, is constructed with a narrow opening H, extending throughitin line with the said arm and conforming to the cross-section of thebrush 1, which is composed of a series of thin flexible strips of sheetmetal placed one upon the other, the said brush being secured in placein the box by means of a thumb-screw J, mounted in the upper Wallthereof and entering the opening therein, so as to engage with thebrush, which may be longitudinally adjusted by loosening it.

A movable hand-piece K, resting upon the flat upper face of theframepiece A, is interposed between the same and the arm F of thebrush-carrier and constructed at its inner end with a lifting-finger K,which co-operates A yoke-shaped slide D, applied to the ICO with acam-face F formed upon the inner face of the said arm F, in lifting thearm into the position shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which thebrush is retired, or, in other words, cleared from engagement with thecommutator, which is not shown. A shoulderK formed upon the lower edgeof the hand-piece, near the outer end thereof, is provided forengagement with the outer end of the frame-piece A, whereby the saidhandpiece is prevented from being pushed too far inward. At its extremeouter end the hand piece is flattened and turned down, as at K to enableit to be more readily grasped for manipulation. The end of thelifting-finger K of the hand-piece has a flat face to co-opcrate with acorresponding face F formed just in front of the knuckle F of the arm Fof the brush-carrier, as will be hereinafter described. A coiled springL connects the forward end of the box H with the slide D and exerts aconstant tendency to hold the brushcarrier in its normal position, asshown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In using a brush-holder constructed in accordance with my invention itis first set in the usual manner, after which the brushes are movedtoward or away from the comm utator, as required, by means of theadjustingscrew, which enables this operation to be very easily and verydelicately performed and the brush set to secure the very best results.This screw enables the adj ustment of the brushes to be effected muchmore evenly and accurately than can be done by loosening the thumb-screwJ and moving the brushes longitudinally in the box of the brush-carrierby hand. IVhen itis desired to retire the brushes, or, in other words,to clear them from engagement with the commutator, the hand-piece isseized by its outer end and pulled back, whereby the brush-carrier islifted against the tension of the spring L into the position shown byFig. 2 of the drawings, in which it is sustained by the engagement ofthe flat edge of the lifting-finger K of the hand-piece with the fiatface F formed just in front of the knuckle F of the arm F of the box ofthe brush-carrier. IVhen it is desired to re-engage the brushes with thecommutator, the hand-piece is pushed inward, permitting the spring L toact in pulling the brush-carrier down, and so engaging the brushes withthe commutator. The described operation of the hand-piece does noteffect the adjustment of the parts and enables the brushes to be retiredand brought into operative position very conveniently.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exactconstruction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to makesuch departures therefrom as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope ofmy invention. I am not, for instance, obliged to use the slide and theadjusting'screw in conjunction with the sliding hand-piece, but may useeither or both of the said features.

I-Iavingfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a holder for the commutator-brushes of dynamo-electrical machines,the combination, with a frame-piece, of a brush-carrier pivotallyconnected therewith, and a handpiece located between the brush-carrierand the frame-piece for lifting the former to retire the brush,substantially as set forth.

2. In a brush holder for commutatorbrushes for dynamo electric machines,the combination, with a frame-piece, of a brushcarrier pivotallyconnected therewith, and a sliding hand-piece resting upon theframepiece and interposed between the same and the ln'ush-carrier andconstructed at its for-- Ward end with a lifting-finger, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a holder for commutator-brushes for dynamo-electric. machines, thecombination, with a frame-piece, of a slide applied thereto, abrush-carrier connected with the said slide, and an adjusting-screwmounted in the framepiece and connected with the slide for moving thesame, and hence the brush-carrier, substantially as set forth.

4. In a holder for commutatorbrushes for dynamo-electric machines, thecombination, with a frame-piece having an opening to receive a shaft,and two depending parallel lugs having aligned perforations, of ayoke-shaped slide located between the said lugs and having a dependinglug constructed with a threaded perforation, an adjusting screw passingthrough the said lugs, a brush-carrier pivoted to the said slide, asliding hand-piece located between the frame-piece and brushcarrier andhaving a lifting-finger at its inner end, and a spring for pulling thebrush-carrier toward the frame-piece, substantially as set forth.

5. In a holder for commutator-brushes for dynamo-electric machines, thecombination, with a frame-piece, of a brush-carrier pivotally connectedtherewith and having a camface and a flat face located in rear of thesame, and a sliding hand-piece located between the ln'ush-carrier andthe frame-piece for lifting the former to retire the brush andconstructed at its forward end with a liftingfinger, which co-operateswith the said cam and flat faces, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC II. BARIIIOLOME\V.

IVitnesses:

C. E. SMITH, G. A. SMITH.

IIO

